A Transformative Time for Country Music
Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton, and Brothers Osborne were the faces of Billboard’s latest issue. What do they all have in common? Each of them, in their own way, represent the increasingly inclusive environment in country music. The genre has previously been dominated by a lack of diversity, and those who didn’t fit the stereotypical country mold have had a hard time finding support in the country scene. In Billboard’s June issue, writer Marissa R. Ross tells the stories of these individuals in the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities and how they found their voice in Country.
Not only are Brown, Guyton, and Brothers Osborne the faces of the modernization of country music, but they are incredibly successful. Guyton became the first Black female country singer to be signed to a major country label in 2011 when she was signed to Capitol Records. In the years since, she has found her voice in songs like “Black Like Me,” a song she released in response to the murder of George Floyd, songs of which have helped her use her identity and platform toward change. To highlight some of Guyton’s greatest successes- she was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Solo Artist and hosted the ACM Awards with Keith Urban.
Brown has achieved great success musically and in his own entrepreneurial ventures. Atop of earning 5 no. 1 Country Airplay singles, and collaborating with the likes of Camila Cabello and Marshmello, Brown has launched his own label, 1021 Entertainment, and publishing imprint, Verse 2 Music. He’s made history, as well, being the first Black male solo country artist to perform at the BET Awards.
Alongside his brother John Osborne, TJ Osborne has been nominated for seven Grammys and has won four CMT awards. Their single, “Stay A Little Longer” became a platinum mainstream hit. When TJ came out as gay earlier this year, he did so both for his own self expression and to show the younger generations of queer kids that they, too, have a place in country music. The duo released “Younger Me” off the feet of TJ’s coming out. The single has over 800,000 streams on Spotify.
Browne, Guyton, and Osborne have been the cavaliers of this new movement in Country. Each of them have utilized their platforms to make room for the communities they represent within the country sphere. Notably, in the event that premiered on June 25, Guyton and Brothers Osborne, along with other country superstars, were featured in Miley Cyrus’s Pride special, Stand By You- a night to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community centered around country music.
Last year, Country saw its greatest streaming current, up 8% from 2019. Perhaps some of this can be accredited to the fact that more people are seeing themselves in the country landscape, and thus the country audience is broadening. Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton, and Brothers Osborne are only the start to a more progressive country music scene, and represent the dozens of up and coming country artists that now feel as though they have a louder voice at the table. We have compiled a list of Black and LGBTQIA+ country artists to be on the lookout for:
Tiera
Tiera is a female country singer raised in Alabama, who has already been recognized by CMT as part of their Next Women in Country and Listen Up classes. She recently released her self-titled 5 track EP, ‘Tiera.’ We recommend her chill, summer track “Laid Back!”Lily Rose
Rose’s 2020 release, “Villain,” took off on TikTok with over 37,000 videos under the sound. The success of “Villain” landed her a record deal in a joint venture between Republic Records, Big Loud Records, and Back Blocks Music. We definitely think we will be seeing a lot more from Lily in the near future!Amythyst Kiah
Off of her latest project, ‘Wary + Strange,’ Amythyst Kiah is taking off with her alternative, roots/old-time-music style. She has been featured on CBS and Rolling Stone, and has heard praise from The New York Times, Billboard, and Pitchfork. We love her Black empowerment song, “Black Myself!”Fancy Hagood
Fancy Hagood found success in the country music scene in 2015 when his single “Goodbye” peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. Since then, he has been signed to Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group. His latest release, ‘Southern Curiosity’ celebrates and reflects on his experiences being queer in the south. “Don’t Blink” is a must add to your summer country playlist.
https://time.com/5935439/tj-osborne/